Effects of graded doses of estrogen benzoate on the microanatomy of testis in male albino rats

The research was conducted in the department of Anatomy Government Medical College Srinagar. The aim of our study was to elucidate the effects of estrogen treatment on the microanatomy of Testis in male Albino rats with reference to the treatment regimen received. For this research we selected sixty male albino rats with an average weight of100gms. The animals were kept in the animal house of Government Medical College Srinagar and divided randomly into three groups. Group A served as control, while Group B and C received daily low and high doses of estrogen benzoate diluted in coconut oil respectively. From each group animals were sacrificed at intervals of one, three, six and twelve weeks. 5-6 micrometer thick histological sections of testis were cut, fixed on glass slides and stained with Haematoxyline & Eosin. Microscopic changes in the testis were recorded. It was observed that estrogen benzoate produces dose and duration dependent histopathological changes in the testis of male albino rats. Our studies revealed that estrogen treatment significantly decreased the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and induced fatty degeneration in the surrounding connective tissue. An increase in collagen fiber synthesis in the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding the seminiferous tubules was also induced. Spermatogenesis was impaired resulting in mainly spermatogonia being present. Both Sertoli and Leydig cells showed morphological alterations and glycoprotein accumulations. These results demonstrate that increased estrogen levels drastically impact the human testis.